Cylinder-tripping device for multicylinder presses



May 17,1927. 1,628,959

F. s. ENGLISH ET AL CYLINDER TRIPPING DEVICE FOR HULTICYLINDER PRESSES 'Filed'Jufie 1922 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 half? May 17, 1927.

F. is. ENGLISH ET AL CYLINDER TRIPPING DEVICE FOR MULTICYLINDER PRESSES 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12; 1922 avwmto a 6 May 9 F. s. ENGLISH ET Al.

CYLINDER TRIPPING DEVICE FOR MULTICYLINDER PRESSES I Fild June 12, 1922 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 17, 1927. 1,628,959

I CYLINDER TRIPPING DEVICE FOR MULTICYLINDER PRE SSES F95. ENGLlSH .ET AL 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 12 1922 May 17, 1927.

F. s. ENGLISH ET AL CYLINDER TRIPPING DEVICE FOR MULTICYLINDER PRESSEs Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 1922 I It!!! 4 1, 2 s 1927' F. s. ENGLISH ET AL 6 89 9 CYLINDER TRIPPING DEVICE FOR MULTICYLIEDER PRESSES Filed June 12, 1922 9 Shuts-Sheet 5 May 17, 1927.

F15. ENGLISH ET AL CYLINDER TRIPPlNG DEVICE FOR MULTICYLINDER PRESSES Fi led June 12. 19221 9 sheets-sheet F. S. ENGLISH ET AL May 17, 1927. 1,628,959

CYLINDER TRIPPING DEVICE "FOR NULTICYLINDER PRESSES Filed Juhe 1922 9 sheets-Sheet a 1,628 959 M"? 1927' F. s. ENGLISH ET AL 'CYLIN'DER 'IRIIPPING DEVICE FOR MULTICYLINDER FRESSES Filed June 12. 1922 f StQaets-Sheet Z-lwvemtoz Patented May 17, 1927.

UNETED STATES PIA-TENT oFri c-s.

FRED S. ENGLISH AND THOMAS L. PER-RY, OF LONDON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE BABCOCK PRINTING PRESS MANUFACTURING- COMPANY, OF NEW LONDON,

CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT. V

CYLINDER- DRIPPING DEVICE FOR MULTICYLINDER PRESSES.

Application filed June 12, 1922. Serial N0. 567,694.

for tripping the cylinders of sheet feed multi-cylinder presses. It is common practice in the printing press art to provide some means under the control ofthe press feeder to trip the cylinder of a printing press or cutter and creaser in order to keep the printing couples separated when they ordinarily would be pressed against each other. This is to prevent injury to the printing form if a sheet becomes bailed up or to prevent the ink from being transferred to the impression cylinder when the feeder fails to feed a. sheet; and there are various other occasions when it is desirable to trip the cylinders. The presentcase relates to a tripping device which is adapted for multi-cylinder presses of every kind and it is especially useful when applied to two color presses ofthe sheet feed type wherein a sheet Our present invention relates to devices 7 receives two separate impressions on the same i at:

side while traveling through the press. We have shown our invention embodied in such a press which is of the two revolution type or wherein each printing couple makes two revolutions each time a sheet passes through the press or for each cycle of operations.

Some of the objects of our invention are To provide cylinder tripping devices by means of which either cylinder may be tripped independently of the other- These devices so operate that one cylinder may be tripped and the sheets will nevertheless pass through the press and be delivered, butthe sheets will simply receive the impression from one form or plate in such cases. These devices permit either the first or second cylinder to be individuallytripped. These devices are operative independently of the combined tripping mechanism which trips both cylinders.

Another object is to initiated manually but operated by power for tripping both cylinders but in their proper sequence. This mechanism is very simple and no coinplicatedpdevices are'required torestcre the parts to operative con-' dition after the tripping operation.

Another object of our invention is to pro vide a mechanism of the character just described wherein, if the operator fails to initiate the operation of the tripping mechaprov'ide mechanism nism in time to utilize thepower means for operating the trip, he may still operate the trip by manual power.

Another object is to provide mechanism whereby the operator in tripping the first cylinder initiates the tripping of the second cylinder and when the tripping of the second cylinder has been thus initiated the operator can release his initiating element or key and the actual tripping of the second cylinder may take place after the operator releases his key. The action of the operator in tripping the two cylinders is therefore about the same as when tripping the cylinder on a single cylinder flat bed press.

This reduces the mental effort to the sum ple thought of depressing one treadle 01' key to trip both cylinders and of releasing the treadle or key. The operator therefore does not have to figure on keeping his key or treadle depressed until both cylinders are tripped as he initiates the tripping of both cylinders by the simple depression of the key or 'treadle.

Another object is to provide a tripping mechanism wherein the lifting of the cyl. inders is so timed'that they are inproper cont-act with the transfer reel or cylinder at the time the sheet is transferred, so that any looseness orimperfection in the meshing of the gears which is caused by the shifting of the cylinders, will take place at a time when it can not affect the sheet.

Other advantages will be pointed out or will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.

. In the drawings forming part of this ap plication': p

Figure 1 is a view of the cylinder raising and lowering devices-through which the tripping devices operate.

FigurefZ isanelevation of the tripping mechanical power.

Figure l isa similar View showing the parts in their positions at the time the first cylinder starts down after missing a sheet.

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the positions of the parts when the cylinders have made one revolution from the condition shown in Figure at.

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the positions of the parts at the time cylinder 2 is about to start down on the next cycle following the failure of the cylinder 1 to take a sheet. The cylinders have made somewhat more than two revolutions from the period indicated in Figure 2 and about onehalf revolution from the period indicated in Figure 5. The positions here indicated are such as existif the press has been tripped for only one missed sheet.

Figure 7 is a similar view showing the parts after the cylinders have revolved about one quarter revolution from that of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a similar view of a modified construction wherein several of the levers are mounted on common shafts.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the relationship of the axes of the cylinders in different positions.

Figure 10 is a similar view of the action of the eccentrics for operating the cylinders, and a Figure 11 is an enlarged detail view of certain levers and one of the latches.

In the drawings we have shown only so much of the printing press as is necessary to illustrate the application of our invention. Herein we have shown the lower end of the feed board 46 from which the sheets are fed to the cylinder 1; and near the end of this board is arranged the first impression cylinder 1 which has grippers 50 for gripping the leading edge of the sheet. This cylinder, mounted upon the shaft 67 and driven by gearing as herein shown, carries the sheet on its impression surface or tympan in rolling contact with the first printing form or plate which is mounted on. the plate cylinder 48. The latter is mounted on the shaft 68 and it is driven by the gears herein shown at the ame surface speed as the cylinder 1. To the left (in the drawings) of the first impression cylinder 1 we have arranged the transfer cylinder or reel 47 which is mounted on the shaft 69; and the diameter of this transfer reel is usually much less than that of the impression cylinders. This transfer reel. is provided with grippers 51 whereby the sheet may be taken by the reel from the first impression cylinder 1 after the sheet has made one revolution with the latter and has received its first impression from the plate on thecylinder 18. To the left of the transfer reel, in the drawings, we have shown the second impression cylinder 2, mounted upon the shaft 70; and this. cylinder is provided with grippers F 2 so that the sheet may be taken by this cylinder from'the transfer reel. The purpose of the transfer reel, as is well known, is to place the. sheet on the second impression cylinder with the printed side out, so that the second impression will occur on the same side of the sheet the first impression.

The second plate cylinder 49 which carries the form or plate for the second impression, is mounted on the shaft 71; and while the sheet is making one revolution with the imtripped the raising and lowering operation is arrested though the cylinders continue to revolve.

The means for directly effecting the raising and lowering of the cylinder are shown in Figure 1 and these more or less conform to present practice in their construction though not necessarily in their timing. Herein we have shown the shaft 7 of the press, on which are fixed the cams 7 2 and 73. The cam 73 operates on a pair of rollers 74 carried by a reciprocating bar 7 5 to reciprocate the latter periodically. This bar 7 5 has pivoted to it at 5 a drop hook 3 which reciprocates with the bar '?5 but which may swing in relation thereto on the pivot This drop hook has a recess 60 to receive the pin 26 and on one side of this recess it has an abutment member 7 6 which is long enough to engage the pin 26 in either position of the drop hook; and at the opposite side of the recess it has a surface 77' which is en aged by a roller 61 in the manner hereinafter pointed out. The pin 26 which is engaged by the drop hook, is carried by a lever arm 78 secured to the shaft 80 and another arm 79, on this shaft is connected at its free end with a pitman 81 which is also pivoted to a lever arm 82 which operates an eccentric sleeve 83 for the purpose of bodily raising and lowering the first impressioncylinder 1. Movement of the 'drop hook 8 to the right in Figure 1 causes the cylinder 1 to be lifted, whereas the reverse movement causes this cylinder to be lowered; and these operations take place periodically as long as the press is untripped.

The cam 7 2 operates in a similar manner upon the rollers 84 mounted upon the reciprocating rod .85. The drop hook 4 is pivoted at 6 to this rod 85 and it is provided with a recess 53 to receive the pin 31. It also has an abutment 92 like the abutment 76 and the roller engaging surface 93. The pin 31 is carried upon the arm86- secured'on the shaft 87 and a second arm 88 on this shaft has pivoted thereto one end of the pitman'89. The other end of this pitman is pivoted tothe arm 90 which operates the eccentric sleeve 91* to raise and lowerthe second impression cylinder 2. When the drop hook t moves to the right in Figure 1 it lowers the cylinder 2 and when it moves to the left it raises this cylinder; andt-hese operations are repeated as long as the press operates untripped. The present invention relatesto the means for tripping the cylinders or arresting the raising and lowering operations of the drop hooks 3, a and for restoring the cylinders to operative condition.

in Figure 2 we have shown the mechanism for tripping the cylinders and in this view we have shown the drop hooks and such parts as have'been just above described.

The device for tripping the first impres sion cylinder 1 is as follows: On the shaft 7 from which the drop hooks are operated there is a cam 9 Which actuates the lever arm 66 having a roller on its free end This lever arm is mounted on a shaft or a stud 4C3 which also carries the lever arm 10; these arms 66, 10 moving as parts of one lever the pivot of which is the shaft or stud 43. The:

the pressman or feeder and this is preferably free end of the arm 10 actuates the pin 95 carried on the end of the lever arm 56 and this latter is secured 011 a shaft or a stud 40. The arm 11, with the arm 56 forming a lever, is also mounted on the stud 40 and projects downwardly and on its free end it has a laterally extendingengaging member .13 provided with a slanting rear surface 13.

and a rather broad bottom surface 62. On the stud 41 there isfixed an arm 14. which extends downwardly and at its lower" end it has pivoted thereto at 1 f aswinging latch 12 having a claw for engaging the member l -onthearm 11 to cause the lever arms 11,

i l to belocked together. This arm is pivots from the shaft or stud 4-1 and another arm.

15 fixed to this stud forms the second member of a lever which reaches over near the drophook '3; and on its free end it has a roller 61 which;engagesthe surface 7'? of the V drophook 3 for the'purpose of lifting the 1 latter off the pin 26 while permitting thedrop hook 3 to reciprocate with-the bar 75.

It will be apparent that when the interlock-v ing member 12 clamps the member 13 that the lever 11, which 18 continually rocked by the earn 9, and lever 66, 10, will roekthe lever 1e, 15 and this willcause the drop hook 3.to be liftedofi the pin 26 and this 1 tripping'the first impression cylinder. Suitable latches (not shown) of common form may be used for holding the cylinders in raised position.

'19, has a laterally projecting boss or pin 23.

On the shaft or stud v t8 there is pivoted a lever the arm 21 of which has a latch 20 with a curved top seat to engage under the pin or boss 23 for the purpose of causing the lever arm -54 to operate the lever arm 21 in one direction; i. e. downwardly. The other arm 22 of the lever 21, 22, reaches over and is provided with a roller 29 engaging the surface 93 of the drop hook 4;. It will be apparent that when the latch 20 lies in the path of the pin 23, the lever 19, rocked by the cam 8 will force down. the arm 21 and raise the arm 22 andthis will lift the drop a foot treadle 64: arranged at any convenient place on the press, as for-instance, on the feeders platform- This treadle is adapted to force down the lever arm 18 to which it is pivoted. The other arm 59 of this lever, also mounted on the shaft or stud 4:6, is pivotally connected to a link 17 and the other end of this link is pivoted'to the free end of a lever arm 16, mounted on the shaft or stud 42. On this stud is the second arm 2 of a lever and, the'free end thereofis connected to an extensible. connection 25 which may consist partly of a coiled spring 25; The other endv of this extensible connection is connected with the latch 20, for the purpose of drawing the latter over into the path of the pin 23, the return of the iii.

latch-being effected by any desired means such as by the gravity weight 20.

The arm 16 is so located that it may strike the boss or pin 57 on the member 12 for the purpose of throwing-the latter into engagement with the member 13. The treadle 64:,

acting through the parts just described,

initiates the operation of the tripping de vices'as will more fully appear in the description of the operation. 1

Manual means for trippingthe cylinders individually. The v above described mechanism is for tripping. both cylinders in sequence. The devices for tripping the cylin- =ders individually are as follows: 7

There is a treadle 63 adapted. to be actuatedby the operator. or, press feeder, and

33, of a lever 45. The other under a pm or this is pivoted to one arm, rocking on the shaft or stud arm 34 of this lever engages boss arm 82 which is fast on the same shaft or stud 1 on which lever arms 14L and 15 are secured. Therefore, when the treadle 63 is depressed the arm 33 moves downwardly, the arm moves upwardly, carrying with it the arm. and this causes the arm 15 to move upwardly, and to lift the drop hook 3 to disengage the pin 26. The action on the cylinder 1 is the same as if it were tripped through the mechanical device first de- :-:cribed: that is, the cylinder 1 is tripped, but this does not affect the second cylinder 2.

There is another treadle 65, adapted to be depressed by the operator or press feeder and this is connected with and depresses the lever arm 35, mounted on the shaft or stud 47. The other arm 58, of this lever has a pin 58 which engages the arm 36 mounted loosely on the shaft or stud 4E7, but only in one direction; i. e. the direction necessary to cause the arm 36 to pull on the connecting rod 37. The latter is pivoted at its other end to an arm 38 which is fast on the shaft or stud 48. When the treadle 65 is depressed, this rocks the arm 35 downwardly,'the arm 58 is rocked to the right in Figure 2 and the pin 58 moves the arm. 36 to the right. This pulls the link 37 and rocks the arm 38 to the right. This, in turn, swings the arm 22 upwardly and the roller 29 lifts the drop hook 4; off the pin 31 and the secondimpres sion cylinder 2 is thereby tripped. The operation of the treadle 65, however, does not affect the first impression cylinder 1. It will-be apparent from the above that either impression cylinder may be individually tripped through the treadles 63, 65, without affecting the other impression cylinder, so that sheets may be run through the press to receive only a single impression. Any suitable form of latch (notshown) may be used to hold down the treadles.

Suitable means are provided for limiting the lever arms in their movements, and for returning such as are positively operated inone direction only. The latch 20, for instance, is returned by a counterweight and its movements are limited by stop pins 20. The arm 38 is returned by a coiled spring (not shown) as it is only moved in one direction through the treadle 6?. The lever arm is pulled down by a coiled spring 15 since it is positively moved in only one direction from the trea'dle 63. The arm 66 is caused to follow the cam 9 by a spring 66*, and the arm '19 is caused to follow the cam 8 a spring 19.

In Figures 2 to 7 we have shown the several levers scattered in order to more clearly show their functions but in actual practice 3 L projecting laterally from the lever we prefer to mount as many levers as possible on common studs .or shafts. In Figure 8 we have shown them so mounted and the several levers in this view are lettered 'to correspond with the first construction. In stead of using the three shafts (40, 11, 42) we here use one shaft 11, and .the levers 14, 15 and are fast on this shaft, while the other levers on this shaft are loose. The lever arms 19, 5a are fast on the shaft 13, whereas the lever arms 10, 66 are loose on this same shaft. The studs 15, 46, 47 are merely fulcrums for the levers mounted thereon. Except for these differences the construction and operation are the same as in the form first described. It is understood that the levers which are loose on the shaft are attached to each other wherever necessary.

The timing of the operation of the several devices is an important factor insecuring the most desirable results and this is an' important feature of our invention. We have illustrated in the several views approxlmately the changes which take place in se- 1 quence during one cycle of operation of the press.

In Figure 2 we have shown the parts in approximately the position they are in when the head of the sheet is just being transferred from the first impression cylinder to the reel, the sheet beingshown in dotted lines on the first impression cylinder. This is about the time the feeder will conclude to trip the cylinder if he has failed to feed the next sheet in time to be taken by the first impression, cylinder on its followingrevolution; t is understood, of course, that if the feeder fails to feed a sheet at the proper time it is desirable to trip the im pression cylinders in order to prevent the ink from being transferred from the plates directly onto the tympans of the impression cylinders as otherwise subsequent sheets will be smeared unless the press is stoppedand the tympans are cleaned. Impression cylinder lat this time is down. The second impression cylinder 2 has printed and'has' de livered its previous sheet and is moving upwardly, having moved upwardly or away from the plate cylinder 49 nearly to the extent of its movement. The lever-10,66 is rocked periodically by the cam 9 at each cycle of operation of the press regardless of 'whether or not the press 1s printingor is tripped. If at the time the parts are in position shown in Figure 2 the feeder determines to trip the press he depresses the combination treadle 64. This rocks the lever 18, 59 and pulls over the connectingrod 17 and the lever arm 16. The latter pushes the latch 12 by pressing on the pin 57 and the latch 12 engages on the member 13 of lever arm 11.

This locks lever'arms 14 and 11' together so that the former is caused to rock when the lever 11, 56 is rocked by the cam 9 through the lever 10, 66. As the arms 14and are both pinned to the same shaft, the movement of'the arm -14 to the right-causes the arm 15 to rise and to lift the drop hook 3 off the pin 26. This trips the first impression cylinder and leaves it in its raised position so that it is ready to miss a sheet.

Thissame operation of the treadle 64 and the lever 18 pulls over the rod or link 17 and rocks the lever 16, 24. Lever arm 24 draws the connection 25 to the right, and'if the pin 23 is in the path of the latch at this time the connection will be extended. Assuming that latch 12 has been engaged with the. member 13 by the operation of the treadle 64 nothing further will happen until the cam shaft 7 has turned anti-clockwise to the position indicated in Figure 3, during which time, the operator holds down thetreadle 64. \Vhen the parts arrive at the position shown in Figure 3 the impression cylinder 1 will have made about one half revolution and the cam shaft 7 will have made about one quarter of a revolution. In this position of the parts the first impression cylinder has just reached its uppermost position and the second impression cylinder is'about half way down and is going down. The sheet is being transferred from the transfer reel 47 onto the second impression cylinder 2. At this time, the treadle 64 has been moved down only part way, sufficient to engage latch 12 with the member 13; and the connectionv25 has been extended. The treadle 64 may be depressed any moment between the position shown in Figures 2 and 3, but it must be depressed by the time the parts reach the position, shown in F igure3, if the trip is to be operated by power in the manner here described. In Figure 3, cam 9 is about to operate levers 10, 66 and 11, 56 and the latter will be rocked and the drop hook 3 will be lifted while the first impression cylinder is in its upper position. hen the shaft 7 commences to turn anticlockwise from the position shown in Figure 3, the roller 27 will drop into the depression 28 in cam 8 and it will almost iminediately ride out of this depression. I Then the roller 27 goes into the notch 28 the lever. arm 19 goes down and the arm 54 rises, lifting the pin 23 sufliciently to allow. the latch 20 to be pulled under thepin 23. This brings the parts to the positions shown in Figure 4.

In Figure 4 the impression cylinders have turned about one quarter revolution from the position shown in Figure 3. The first impression cylinder 1 is in position to take a sheet from the feed board if a sheethas been fed to the guides and this cylinder would now be about to move downwardly if it had not been tripped.

If the cylinder-1Q should at this time take a sheet'this sheet will progress through the machine only it" will not receive an impression if the cylinder remains tripped. The second impression cylinder 2 still has the first sheet on it and has just completed its downward movement, ready to print thefirst sheet.

At the time referred to just above, the

pin 23 will be engaged with the grooved top of the latch 20, the latch having been drawn over by the connection 25. This condition will be maintained for a time or until the cam 8 turns sufliciently to bring the rise to act on the roller 27. The engagement of the roller 27 in the recess 28 and then with the concentric part 28 of the cam8 has lifted the lever arm 22 sufliciently to steady the parts but not to bring the roller 29 into en-.

release the treadle 64 and the tripping operation for this cycle of the press will be continued.

If the treadle 64 is now released the latch 12 may disengage from themeinber 13, although the parts may bedesigned'so that this latch does not disengage until the cam 9 has turned one half revolution.

Whether or not the treadle is released, the cylinders rotate and the parts arrive at the positions indicated in Figure 5. In Figure 5 the impression cylinders will have made one complete revolution from their position in Figure 4. Had the press not been tripped thefirst impression cylinder would be in its lower position in Figure 5 but since the press has been tripped, this cylinder now remains up. This cylinder is starting on What is called its second revolution and if it had been fed with a sheet it would have just finished printing and be nearly ready to transfer it to the transfer reel; but it may be assumed that the press has been tripped because the feeder failed to feed a sheet in-time and so-the impression cylinder 1 remains'out of contact with the plate cylindei' 48. In Figure 5 the drop hook 3 is in the extreme left position and is ready to move toward the right.

he ti'eadle 64 maybe released at any time between the period between that of 'FiQ'ure 4 and F isiire 5' or even later. The

release of this treadle allows lever 16-to move to the left and this frees the latch 12 holds the drop hook 3 raised but the roller 55 will now run' onto the lower part of cam 9 and as the drop hook 3 moves to the right it gradually drops onto the stud 26.

As to impression cylinder 2 it may be noted that in Figure 5 this cylinder has printed the first sheet and is in the act of delivering the sheet to the delivery device. This cylinder has moved upwardly about one third way. By this time the roller 27 has engaged the concentric portion of cam 8 and the levers 19, 54: and 21, 22 have remained stationary. The connection 25 has slacked off but the latch 20 remains engaged with the pin 23.

As the parts leave the position shown in Figure 5 the high part of the cam 8 engages the roller 27 and this rocks the lever 19 and lifts the lever arm 22 so that the drop hook t is gradually lifted from the pin 31, as the drop hook d moves to the left,

. arriving at the condition shown in Figure 6.

In Figure 6 the cylinders have turned a little more than one half revolution from that of Figure 5 and about two and aquarter revolutions from Figure 2. The first impression cylinder, being tripped, is now in its raised position whereas, it otherwise would have been going up. The feeder by this time will have a sheet ready at the guides to be taken by the first cylinder 1, provided he has previously released the treadle 64.

Regarding cylinder 2, the sheet that was printed before cylinder 1 was tripped has been about transferred from cylinder 2 to the delivery device and this cylinder is now raised and is ready to go down. The grippers of this cylinder have just passed the point where they would have taken the sheet from the reel 4L7 had the feeder not missed his previous feed of a sheet. The operator has previously released the treadle 64 in the assumed operation. The roller 55 now engages the low side of cam 9, thus allowing the drop hook 3 to rest on the stud 26 while the hook is moving toward the right. If the feeder desires, he may now depress the treadle 6st and repeat the tripping operation. It has been here assumed that the feeder has tripped only for one cycle.

In Figure 6 the cam 8 has turned until its high portion engages the roller 27 and this has lifted the drop hook 4- off the stud 31. At this time, the drop hook 4: is about to move to the right and as it does so it rides over and clears the stud 31, so that the second impression cylinder remains up and tripped. These cylinders revolve until they come to the position shown in Figure 7.

In Figure 7 the impression cylinders have revolved about a quarter turn from their position in Figure 6. The first impression cylinder is up both because it is tripped and because thedrop hook 3 is in position to hold it up, but since the cam 9 previously released the drop hook 3 the latter drops onto the stud 26. The second impression cylinder is now up, since it is tripped, but had it not wardly. The cam 8 has turned so that the roller 27 has dropped into the recess 28 thus allowing the stud 23 to rise with lever 19, and this allows the drop hook t to move down on the stud 31 and ride across it. The lever arm 22 goes down until the latch 20 snaps to the left of the path of the stud 23 so that as the cam 8 revolves into the position shown in Figure t, the stud 23' will move down to one side of the latch 20. The drop hook 4 will make a movement to the right and then to the left when it will drop to bring the stud 31 in the notch 53. Had

the treadle 64 been depressed to trip the cyl- I inders for a succeeding sheet the latch 20 would have been held under the stud 23 and the operations described above would be repeated.

WVhen the parts are in the position shown in Figure 7 the first impression cylinder takes the sheet which rests against the. feed guides and as the drop hook 3 has dropped onto the stud 26 the cylinder 1 will thereafter move down for the printing operation and cylinder 2 continues to remain tripped until such time as the drop hook 4t drops onto the stud 31, which latter will occur in time for the second cylinder 2, to print the sheet now being taken by cylinder 1.

The cylinder 1 may be tripped by depressing treadle 63 and this will actuate lever 33, 34 arm 32 and arm 15 to lift drop hook 3. This maybe done independently of the combination trip when the cylinder 1 only isto be tripped. Likewise, treadle may be operated to trip cylinder 2 independently. The depression of this treadle rocks the lever 35, 58, the arm 36, pulls. the link 37, rocks the arm 38 and the arm 22 and lifts the drop hook 4. As the lever 36 can move in one direction independently of the lever arm 58 the combination trip can be operated regardless of the condition of the device for independently tripping cylinder 2.

Means for manually tripping cylinder 1 through combination tripping device. V hen the treadle (Set is depressed as in Figure 3, to operate the combination trip the only effort required of the operator is to swing the latch 12 and then cam 9 provides the power necessary to carry out the tripping function. If, however, the feeder does not depress treadle 64 by the time the high portion of cam 9 commences to move the lever 11 to the right the latch 12 can not hook onto member 13, but the latch will strike against the under surfaceof the member 13, as shown in Figure 11. As it is now too late for the tripping cam to trip the first cylinderl, the operator may continue to press down on treadlefil, with sufficient force to pull lever arni l4 to'the right and, trip cylinder 1.

in Figure 4, the latch 12 will engage the member 13 and the conditions will then be the samejas if the first cylinder had been tripped through the power means. If the operator therefore actuates the treadle in time, the power means carries out the tripping function but if he acts late he may .still trip the first cylinder 1, by using more effort, such as he might be required to use in tripping devices on single cylinder presses. In such cases, of course, thesecond cylinder'will be tripped through the power means.

From the above it will'be apparent that we have provided positiye and efficient mechanism whereby the operator may initiate the tripping of both cylinders and the power means will carry out the function of tripping the cylinders in their proper sequence and in proper time. Or, if the operator delays tripping too long he may still actuate the combination trip by using greater force for tripping the first cylinden Also, that we have provided means for tripping either cylinder independently and independently of the combination tripping device.

The mechanism is so timed that the gears are in close mesh at the times when this condition is most desirable. In Figure 9 we have shown the relation of the several cylinders for the purpose of indicating how the cylinders are close during the transfer of the sheet. It is desirable that the gears of the several cylinders be in close'mesh while a sheet is being transferred from one to the other but in order to raise and lower the cylinders there must be a time when their gears are not fully in mesh, In this view we have shown cylinder 1 down, at which time its axis R is on the same horizontal line as the axis N of the transfer cylinder or reel 47. At such time the cylinder 1 is nearest the transfer reel L7 and therefore their gears are in close mesh. It is while these cylinders are in this position that the sheet is transferred from cylinder '1 to the transfer reel 47 in' representing the movement of the axis of the cylinder 1 in moving between the lower position U and the upper position X, this movement being caused by the eccentrics moving about the pivotal point V. The movement of the cylinder 2 is similar to this except. that the are T is transposed to the left hand position. By arranging the parts .so that the cylindergears are in close mesh at the moment of transfer the operation of transferring the sheet is more accurate than if the transfer were made while the cylinder gears were in loose mesh. Wi e do not mean by this that the gears must be in close mesh while the whole sheet is being transferred but atcthe time the grippers of one cylinder are releasing the sheet and the grippers of'the adjacent cylinder are taking hold of it.

Having described our invention what we claim is: V v

1. In a press thecombination of means for tripping a cylinder, power means for operating the same, manual means for initiating the operation of the tripping means, and meanswhereby the cylinder may be tripped through said initiating means after the latter is operated too latefor said power means. V

Ina multi-cylinder press the COlllbllld tion of means for tripping the cylinders in 7 sequence, power means for operating the .same, manual means for initiating the op eration of the trippin means, and means whereby a cylinder may be tripped through said initiating means ii the latter is operated too late for said power means.

In a multi-cylinder press the combination of means for tripping the cylinders in sequence, power means for operating the same, manual means for initiating the operation of the tripping means by the power means, and Ineans whereby the cylinders may be tripped in sequence through said initiating means if the latter is operated too late for said power means. v

4. In a multi-cylinder press the combination of means for tripping the cylinders in sequence, powermeans for operating the same, manual means for initiating the operationof the tripping'means by the power means, means whereby the cylinders may be tripped in sequence through said initiating means if the latter is operated too late for said powcrmeans, and means for tripping a cylinder individually by manual power and operative while said other trippingv means is operating.

5. In a multi-cylinder press the combination of means for tripping the cylindersin sequence including cams operated with the press for tripping the cylinders, manual means for initiating the operation of the tripping means by. said cams, and means whereby a cylinder may be tripped through said initiating means if the latter is operated too late for said cams to operate the tripping means.

6. In a multi-cylinder press the combination. of means for tripping the cylinders in sequence, including members adapted to effect the tripping of each cylinder, power means for operating said first members, power means foreifecting the operative conlull nection of said first members, and said first power means, and manually operated means including a latch for connecting said second and said first power operating means.

7. In a multi-cylinder-press the combination of means for tripping the cylinders in sequence, including levers adapted to effect the tripping of each cylinder, power means for operating said levers, power means for throwing said first power means out of operation, and manually operated means including latches for effecting the connection of said first and said second power means, and compressible means through which one of said latches .is operated to permit deterred operation of said latch.

8. In a multi'cylinder press the combination of means for tripping the cylinders in sequence, including levers adapted to effect the. tripping of each cylinder, power means for actuating said levers, power means for throwing said first power means out of operative relation with said levers in sequence and manually operated means for throwing said second power means into and out of action.

9. In a press the combination of means for tripping a cylinder comprising a lever for effecting the tripping of a cylinder, a lever for actuating said first lever, means for operatively connecting said levers and manually operated means for operating said connecting means and adapted to actuate said first mentioned lever if said manual means is actuated too late for said second lever to actuate said first lever.

10. In a multi-cylinder press the combination of means for tripping the cylinders in sequence comprising a lever for effecting the tripping of each cylinder, power operated levers for actuating said first levers in se quence, means for operatively connecting said second and said first mentioned levers and manually operated means for operating said connecting means and adapted to actuate the first lever to be operated of said first mentioned levers, if said manual means is operated too late for said second'lever to actuate said first lever.

11. In a press the combination of a lever adapted to effect the tripping of a cylinder, power operated. means for actuating said lever, a latch for connecting said power operated means and said lever, and manually operated means for operating said latch and adapted to actuate said lever it" said manual means is operated too late for said power operated means.

12. In a press the combination of a lever adapted to effect thetrigping of a cylinder,

power operated means for actuating said lever, a self restoring latch for connecting said power operated means and said. lever, and manually operated means for operating said latch and adapted to actuate said lever it said manual means is operated too late for said power operated means, said latch.

being adapted to engage said power operated means when operated late by said manual means.

13. In a multi-cylinder press the combination of means for tripping the cylinders in sequence, comprising a lever for tripping the first cylinder, power operated means for actuating it, a latch for operatively connecting said power operated means and said lever, a lever for tripping the second cylinder, power operated means for actuating said last lever subsequently to the operation of said first lever, a latch, for operatively connecting said second power operated means and said second lever, manually operated means for operating said first latch and an extensible connection through which said manually operated means actuates said second latch.

14. In a multi-cylinder press the combination of means for tripping the cylinders in sequence including cams operated with the press for tripping the cylinders, manual means for initiating the operation of the tripping means by said cams, ineans whereby a cylinder may be tripped through said initiating means if the latter is operated too late for said cams to operate the tripping means, and means for tripping said cylinders individually by manual power and operative while said other tripping means is operating.

15. In a multi-cylinder press the combination of means for tripping the cylinders in sequence including members adapted to effect the tripping of each cylinder, other members for operating said first members and means for effecting the operative connection of said first and said second members, including manually operated means and self restoring members actuated by said manually operated means for connecting said first and said second mentioned members and means for tripping said cylinders individually by manual power and operative while said other tripping means is operatmg.

Signed at New London, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, this 7th day of February, 1922.

FRED S. ENGLISH. THOMAS L. PERRY. 

